Dover-Foxcroft woman impaled by tree limb during heavy thundershower

SANGERVILLE, Maine — A Dover-Foxcroft woman is in critical condition after being impaled by a branch from a large tree that fell during a heavy thundershower Wednesday.

Rory Schmand, 47, had been traveling alone on Douty Hill Road at about 6:30 p.m. when the tree fell during the storm. A branch from the tree broke through Schmand’s windshield and impaled her between the eyes, Investigator Guy Dow of the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department said Wednesday night.

The accident was witnessed by a resident who had been outside gathering up toys during the storm, Dow said. He told police he heard a crack and saw the large tree fall in the road and the branch go through the windshield of Schmand’s Ford Explorer, according to Dow. The man smashed out a window in the vehicle to unlock the door to reach Schmand, he said.

Schmand was flown by LifeFlight helicopter to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. A nursing supervisor said late Wednesday night that Schmand still was being evaluated.

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CORRECTION:

An earlier version of this story mistakenly stated that the injured woman, Rory Schmand, was from Sangerville. She is from Dover-Foxcroft.